A/N: Ok, so this is pretty much my first attempt at not only a House fic but also at a decent-ish length fic altogether. The chapters all follow on from each other but they're more like snippets following the story-line. House is somewhat OOC but it's what I reckon he'd be like in this situation. Probably nobody shares this opinion with me, but that's cool. Anyways, enjoy.
Disclaimer: I don't own House. Who in their right mind would actually try to claim that!?
"Soph? What are you doing here?"
"What, a girl can't just drop by to say hi these days?"
House merely starred at her, unblinking, until she threw her hands up in defeat.
"Fine, I'm here to ask you for a favour."
House continued starring, "Care to elaborate?"
She scowled at him, "Just give me a sec, will you? Jeez." She continued to hesitate - she looked worried, and that in turn worried House, though he would deny it if ever accused, he cared for Sophie.
"Sophie?" He looked at her closely, scrutinising her, concern etched on his face. "Is something wrong?"
She laughed, and put a hand on his chest, tenderly, "No, no. I'm sorry, Greg, I didn't mean to scare you." Taking a deep breath, she stuck out her other hand in one swift movement, revealing to him for the first time, a stunning diamond ring. "I'm getting married." She said, happily. "And, I was hoping... I was hoping you would give me away."
House was shocked, lost for words, for one brief, silent moment, "Are you sure, Sophie? You want me to give you away?"
She laughed again at the shocked expression on his face - the absolute bewilderment, and the obvious confusion as to why she would ask him of all people to walk her down the aisle on the single most important day of her life. "Of course I'm sure. You are the closest thing I've ever had to a father. You've practically been my father all these years. You may not biologically be related to me, but there is no doubt in my mind that you are my dad, in every other way. And, traditionally... the father of the bride gives her away. Besides everyone in this gossip-crazed building has their own theories about what activities you and mum get up to behind closed doors."
House looked at her curiously, "Doesn't talking to me about my sordid secret alleged sex life with your mother creep you out in the slightest?"
She shrugged, "Nope."
House grinned, "Okay then."
"Okay then what?"
"Okay then, I'll do it. I'll give you away."
She squealed a very high-pitched girlish squeal, bouncing up and down on her toes as she went to hug him, and then pulled back, remembering very suddenly his general disgust with the concept of physical affectionate contact with another human being. He frowned at her, balancing his cane against his desk, he placed a hand on each of her shoulders, facing her. "Congratulations Soph." He said quietly, pulling her into the hug, and laying a gentle kiss on her forehead. When they pulled away from the embrace he retrieved his cane, just in time, as the girl wrapped her tiny hand around his wrist and pulled him in the direction of the elevators. "Sophie!" He protested.
"We have to go and tell mum, Greg."
"Fine," He muttered, immensely saddened to have been beaten by the young woman.
"These morons really need to go out and get themselves lives, or even just a hobby would be a start - knitting or I dunno, line dancing."
"They have a hobby."
House his eyebrow, waiting for some form of elaboration. Sophie grinned, "Speculating about you and mum, and your various extra-curricular activities. And placing bets on you of course."
House growled, "You are far too much like your mother, you know."
"You know the majority of this hospital is already under the impression that you are in some kind of sordid relationship, or at least have at some point done the nasty."
House grinned broadly, and wiggled his eyebrows. Sophie gaped at him, "You mean... oh my god... you... and my mum... I mean..." She trailed off, staring at him open mouthed as his grin turned smug, obviously pleased with the shock he had induced. Unable to restrain herself, Sophie burst out laughing, "You are so easy. Of course, you and her have had sex in the last twenty-odd years you've known each other. It's totally obvious to anybody who's ever seen the two of you in the same room, let alone having any kind of conversation, you doofus. The only part I find amazing is that you've both managed to completely deny the fact that you're crazy about one another, and avoid any kind of real relationship."
"I am not crazy about you're mother. She is just plain crazy. And I'm beginning to think you inherited that particular gene, Soph."
"Sure, Doctor House. Whatever you say." She grinned at him knowingly, and he just growled again and stalked past her as best he could with a limp and a cane. "Hey you know," She followed, laughing. "When you give me away, most people will probably believe you're secretly my father anyway. Ooh, and then we'll have a whole new set of rumours and gossip about how you and her have a twenty year old daughter together and have been secretly married all these years. This is going to be so much fun."